A 5min speech for the topic relevence of gandhian thoughts in todays world
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Gandhi not only gave India its freedom but also gave the world and us a new thought on nonviolence and sustainable living. His teachings and experiments are more valid today than ever before, especially when we are trying to find solutions to worldwide greed, corruption, violence and runaway consumptive lifestyle which are putting a very heavy burden on the world’s resources.
Through ages India has time and again given to the world a new thought. Thus Buddhism, Jainism, Yogic system, Sikhism are part of the great spiritual thought given by India from time to time. Gandhiji’s message of nonviolence and sustainable living is a continuation of that long tradition.
To my mind Gandhiji’s greatest contribution to sustainable development was two fold. Firstly his experiments in simple living and high thinking. He believed that with simple living the resources of the planet earth can sustain us comfortably and his famous saying that earth provides us enough for our needs but not for our greed is extremely apt today. Secondly his insistence on all inclusive growth of the society and hence his focus on rural development.
Gandhi’s spirituality
Gandhiji was a highly evolved and spiritual human being. To him spirituality came first. Other things like politics, public life etc. were by-products of his spirituality. Also as a person progresses on the path of spirituality, his or her priorities in life change. The focus of life shifts more towards getting personal happiness through mental peace or by helping others and less on material needs, greed and desires. Gandhiji’s experiments on simple and sustainable living followed his own spiritual progress.
He also realized from an early age the importance of a great body and mind. In this he was following the tenets of ancient Yogic system which stresses on a healthy body and a powerful mind. Thus all his experiments on food, brahmacharya (celibacy) and fasting came from this belief. Besides he also realized that to fight a powerful enemy like Britain, he had to make his body-temple extremely powerful so that it could sustain long fights. This meant that it had to need least amount of comforts and external inputs and thus Gandhiji showed that with simple living he could produce the highest quality of thought. To my mind this was an ultimate example of sustainable living.
Gandhianism starts with the famous line – ‘ Simple living and high thinking’.
This itself is also suggestive of the fact that thoughts of an individual have a great role in shaping his/ her life. That’s why gandhianism appears to be simple to everyone but in real sense practicing it in day to day life is difficult. For instance, remaining truthful, tolerant, non-violent and respecting others in difficult circumstances of life require a great degree commitment.
Truth, the core values of Gandhian philosophy, has been given a special importance by Gandhiji as he himself has tried to remain truthful throughout his life. The autobiography of this great saint – ‘ My experiments with Truth’ testimonies the love of Gandhiji for truth. Gandhian view of truth was irreversible in different contexts irrespective of the urgency of the situation similar to the path followed by Immanuel Kant. This was why in the mid of Non-Cooperation movement Gandhiji cancelled the movement after the satyagrahis deviated from the path of truth and violent incident of Chaurichaura took place where British officers were burnt alive by the satyagrahis. Further, Gandhiji believed that truth empowers an individual whereas lies weaken a person from within. This principle of truthfulness to self and to the world is essential for students in the current context to excel in future life.
Another key component of Gandhianism is non-violence of Gandhiji which was the great weapon used by him during the freedom movement of India against British Raj. Normally, people say that non-violence is the weapon of weak but in reality non-violence and tolerance require a great level of courage and patience. In world that is moving through the phases of war marred by violence and naked dance of death of common people due to the menace of terrorism there is a significant requirement of Gandhian idea of Non- violence more and more today than the past days.
Gandhiji used to respect all religions. The secular ideologies of Gandhiji are not only there in Indian constitution but also there in Indian society as a core value system. That is why so many people of diverse religions coexist in India. Gandhianism was tolerant towards all religions and the world today needs more and more religiously and faith wise tolerant people in societies where violence is committed in the name of religion. Tolerance in the society will help in neutralizing the ethnocentric bias in the globe that is taking place day by day on the basis of religion, caste, ethnicity and region etc.
Gandhian idea of decentralization of power can be implemented in democracies through empowered local self governments at grass root level. Indian government, for instance, have implemented local self government by adopting to Panchayati Raj and Municipality system in rural and urban areas respectively.
Gandhi was against the caste system which is still a taboo in India and that was why he was in favour of Vedic system of Varna where people were assigned to certain varnas on the basis of their work not birth as followed in the rigid and oppressive caste system. The term Harijana was coined by Gandhiji to pay respect to the lower caste people and he did not enter the premises of the temples where lower caste people were not allowed. Thus, the Gandhian philosophy is useful create a casteless society where everyone is treated equally irrespective of their caste.
Socialism is another basic philosophical entity of Gandhianism. Although Gandhian view of socialism is not radical in its approach but it aspires for a classless society with no poverty, no hunger, no unemployment and education and health for all. These Gandhian ideologies have become the lighthouse for Indian policy makers over the years. Starting from poverty alleviation to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and universal health care( Ayushman Bharat) to skill India programs everywhere the core inspiration comes from Gandhianism. National food security act of India to Obamacare policy of the United States of America Gandhian concept of socialism holds the key as a guiding principle.
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